Radiotherapy: How does it help cure cancer and what advances make it safer today?
The radiotherapy It has established itself as one of the fundamental pillars in modern oncological treatment. Unlike other methods, this medical specialty uses ionizing radiation to destroy tumor cells with millimeter precision, always seeking clinical balance: maximizing damage to the tumor and preserving the health of surrounding tissues.
Today, thanks to technological evolution, radiotherapy is not only an effective treatment, but a highly safe and personalized procedure.
This article has been prepared with the collaboration and medical rigor of the Dr. Bárbara A. Malavéspecialist in Radiation Oncology at the Viamed Tarragona Hospital, whom we thank for his dedication in disseminating these advances to improve the health of patients.
What types of radiotherapy currently exist?
Depending on the location of the tumor and the needs of the patient, there are two main modalities:
- External radiation therapy: It is the most common. Radiation is delivered from a linear accelerator (outside the patient’s body), directing the energy beam toward the tumor volume.
- Brachytherapy: It consists of placing radioactive sources directly inside or very close to the tumor, allowing very high doses in very focused areas.
The real impact on healing
Statistics underline the relevance of this specialty:
- between the 50% and 60% of cancer patients will need radiotherapy at some point.
- This treatment is directly responsible for the 40% cure of success stories in oncology.
Clinical objectives: The “Three Cs”
In medical practice, the use of radiation is defined under three clear therapeutic objectives:
- Cure: Eradicate the disease completely.
- Check: Stop tumor growth when total removal is not possible.
- Calm: Application in palliative care to reduce symptoms such as pain or bleeding, improving quality of life.
Cutting-edge Applications and Techniques
The versatility of radiation oncology allows treating tumors of the breast, prostate, lung, digestive, gynecological and central nervous system. However, current advances have allowed us to go further:
- Stereotaxic Radiotherapy (SBRT): It allows very high and precise doses to be administered in very few sessions for injuries to the lung, liver or bones.
- Stereotaxic Radiosurgery: Specially designed for brain injuries, where precision must be absolute.
- Respiratory Control: Techniques that synchronize radiation with the patient’s breathing cycle to protect vital organs, such as the heart in breast cancer.
- Benign Pathologies: It is also used at low doses to treat inflammatory processes (arthrodegenerative diseases) or resistant keloids.
The Therapeutic Process: What should the patient expect?
A radiotherapy treatment is not an isolated action, but a multidisciplinary circuit designed for safety:
Multidisciplinary Committee: Different specialists analyze the case individually.
Simulation and Planning: A CT scan is performed to map the exact area and design the radiation “tailored suit.”
Treatment and Follow-up: Administration of sessions and close control of side effects.
To guarantee these standards of medical rigor, the Radiotherapy Service of the Viamed Tarragona Hospital integrates the most advanced technology with a team of top-level specialists.
Led by the Dr. Meritxell Arenas and the Dr. Bárbara Malavéthe center has:
- linear accelerator Versa HD latest generation.
- Control systems IGRT and SGRT (guided by image and surface).
- A team of radiophysicists and technicians coordinated with the medical oncology service to offer humane and close care.
If you are looking for cutting-edge cancer care, the centers Viamed Health They have expert specialists and the most advanced technology to analyze your case in a personalized way. Request your appointment for a comprehensive assessment and access a treatment designed to suit you with the rigor and closeness you need.
